The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-16
RICHARD ]. 0GLEsBY.
The Death of His Choice.


RICHARD ]. 0sLEsBy,
Governor.
The Death of His Choice.
CHICAGO, Nov. l0.-L0uis Lingg, the true
Arch-Anarchisl and human tiger" COM
mitted suicide in his cell at $50 o oclock this
morning Dy blowing his face To piecrs with
a candle loaded with dynamite and fnlmi-
mating cap. His face was blown our OF all
semblance Of human shape. He litthe wick
and placed the candle in his mouth. At the
time mentioned a report startled every one
in the Jail Mr.. Osborne, the death watch
at once located the sound in Linggs cell. The
door was opened and Lngg was found on
bis back The cell was spattered with blood
and the air was heavy with smoke and the
smell of dynamite. The explosion was
heard all over the Jail. where it echoed
through the corridors aud cells with hol-
low boom" and for moment there
was almost panic. The bleeding bat yet
breathing body was carried into the Jail
office and DR.. Fenger summoned He. with
other physicians at once took steps to stem
the fast flowing life-tide and had some hope
OF saving Linggs life for the hangmau
Parsons was at once taken out of his cell
and searched, but without result candle
loaded in a similar manner to the one used
was found in Lingg's cell. The tallow had
been poured around a dynamite cartridge.
These candles had been passed into the jail
and might have been used by all of the men,
SO far as known.
A representative of the United Press met
Miss Van Zandt at the door and told her
what Lingg had done. She staggered back a
step, pressed her hand TO her heart and
gasped What ;" Upon being assured that
il was indeed true she exclaimed with great
agitation My God. Has ii come to
this
Lingg soon became unconscious and his
breathings scarcely noticeable. He was car
rietl into the bath room and was laid on a
table onto which the torrent of blood gushed
from the holes in his head, completely sur
rounding him Dr. Gray said he found that
the tissues of the throat aud neck and the
front of the jaw had been torn away. Slim
ulanIs failed to rouse the man from his
lethergy While the physician was working
over him Lingg coughed and the blood
spuued from his lungs. staining his hair
and clothes.
The doctor said the unfortunate man could
lska i,4tf, i,fe |,
was coming at greater intervals already.
When informed of Lingg's attempt to
commit suicide Captain Black said that in
his opinion it would have an effect favorable
to the other men. He thought Lingg was
insane and declared that he thought Engel
to be crazy also. lie wouId not attempt 10
say that Lingg's desperate deed would have
any effect ON the Governor. but If il did he
Other men.
II is now thought the dynamite cartridges
were hidden in L.ngg's hair and that he inn
bedded them in his candles himself The
force Of the explosion was downward and
outward, the son tissues Of the throat and
mouth suffering almost total. destruction.
A piece of his tongue was fond in the cell
when il was searched
Linggs life passed away AT 245. The doc
tors pronounced his case hopeless at / o clock
when lac was sitting up and gazing around
the room When asked if he wanted water
he nodded and il was poured down his
throat from a fountain injector. Then he
closed his eyes eonteniedly. About 2.25 the
action of his heart began to f,il and it be-
came evident that he was dying He re-
manned conscious until five minutes before
the end. Then he began to fail In three
minutes more he opened his eyes, glanced
around. dropped his head and was dead
Sheriff Matson arrived at the Jail soon
after the attempt at suicide took place. He
Immediately ordered all the cells of the
prisoners 10 be searched. This was thorough
iy done, but nothing was found.
The otherprisoners refused To say anything
about Linggs attempt at suicide, except
Fischer. who said: Il thought Lingg was
possessed OF sufficient courage not todo such
a thing. | am certainly surprised As for
me, am ready TO grace the gallows.r
Sheriff Matson said = II can only be sur
missed how Lingg got the explosive in his
possession without our discovering it. He
has been thoroughly searched every day